BNP Paribas and #FAAPointsForChange Expand Philanthropic Efforts with Excellence Scholarships for Togolese University Students
Since 2020, BNP Paribas has supported Félix Auger-Aliassime, a 24-year-old player ranked 18th in the world, in his commitment to building a better future for youth in the West African nation of Togo, his father's home country. Félix Auger-Aliassime has pledged to donate $5 for each point he wins during the tournament and BNP Paribas will match it with $15 per point.
During the first five years of the program, money raised financed initiatives to improve the conditions of young people in the Kara region of Togo. The project focused on the protection of children's rights and access to education and sport, benefiting more than 20,000 people.
At the beginning of 2025, Félix Auger-Aliassime, in collaboration with BNP Paribas, decided to enhance the program to support students who are further along in their academic careers, namely deserving students from disadvantaged rural backgrounds in their university academic journey.
Excellence scholarships will be awarded to 30 students enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program at the University of Lomé in Togo to cover their tuition and living expenses. The students will also benefit from mentoring programs and extracurricular activities, facilitating their studies and professional growth.
The main eligibility criteria for applicants will include academic merit, the student's economic situation, their motivation to succeed, and their desire to engage and give back to their communities.
A selection committee will evaluate the applications and choose the 30 laureates after an individual interview. The scholarship will be awarded for one year and is renewable under the condition of maintaining good academic performance.
This program will be deployed with the logistical support of the King Baudouin Foundation, a public utility foundation that will collect donations and ensure their proper use by the local association "Les Salésiens Coopérateurs de Don Bosco." Recognized in Togo since 2010, this association works for the development of children and young people in several regions of Togo. It will manage the student selection process, daily support for scholarship recipients, and the extracurricular mentoring program.
Félix Auger-Aliassime visited Togo at the end of last season to refine the details of this new program, in collaboration with BNP Paribas and various stakeholders. This year, Felix wishes more than ever to contribute to the future of young generations, especially the most disadvantaged, a commitment that echoes BNP Paribas' corporate mission to support young generations worldwide to enable them to build a better future and live their dreams.
Félix Auger-Aliassime, tennis player ranked 18th in the world, said: "The involvement of BNP Paribas in this venture is essential. Together, we have been able to raise several hundred thousand dollars to support a cause that is close to my heart. For me, it is a great way to add meaning to my tennis successes and contribute to something close to my heart. I also hope to inspire other young people to give back, as I have been inspired by my family and other athletes."
Vincent-Baptiste Closon, Head of Sponsoring Tennis for BNP Paribas, said: "The genesis of the project is based on our ambition at BNP Paribas to support those who want to make a difference and have a positive impact on the world. It is in this spirit that we met Félix, driven by the same desire to make a difference through his tennis career. Together, we have created a charitable initiative that goes far beyond sports. This project is part of a transmission approach: those who receive today learn to give tomorrow, creating a truly virtuous circle."
About BNP Paribas and tennis
BNP Paribas is a major partner of world tennis, with a historic commitment that began in 1973 and applies to all levels of tennis around the world ? singles, wheelchair tennis, team and family tennis ? from beginners to the biggest professional tournaments.
- Professional tennis: Official sponsor of the French Open since 1973, Sponsor of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells, Rolex Monte Carlo Masters, Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome), the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, the Moselle Open in Metz and the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm (ATP250), the Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA500);
- Wheelchair tennis: Title partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup; partner of the French Riviera Open, the WJP Challenge Tennis and the Swiss Open Geneva;
- Junior and University tennis: Partner of the French Federation of University Sport and the BNP Paribas Master'U since 1993;
- Amateur tennis: Sponsor of the BNP Paribas Family Trophy and the National Tennis Cup and partner with numerous amateur tournaments supported by the bank around the world;
- Support for younger generations: BNP Paribas supports more than 160 young tennis and wheelchair tennis hopefuls in building their careers through its "Team BNP Paribas Jeunes Talents" programme in France (under the patronage of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in association with the FFT), the United States (with John and Patrick McEnroe), Belgium (under the patronage of Justine Henin) and Italy, Poland, Canada, Japan and Portugal. BNP Paribas has also been a partner in the selection of ball boys and girls at the French Open for 25 years.
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Solidarity-based tennis: A driver of social projects linked to tennis alongside more than 20 national tennis federations and dozens of charities, based on a conviction that tennis is an even better sport when it is collective and geared towards young people.
- At the initiative of the "#FAAPointsForChange" programme in partnership with young Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime and the solidarity programme "Points For Change" for the inclusion of young generations through sport;
- Partner CityParks Tennis charity in the United States. This program in New York City provides free tennis lessons to more than 6,000 children between the ages of six and 16 within the five boroughs of New York City. The program is active in more than 39 parks across the five boroughs, including the BNP Paribas Aces Tennis Program for advanced junior players. The Bank supports hundreds of other community tennis initiatives around the world.
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Sport in the workplace: The BNP Paribas internal tournament (We Are Tennis Cup) is one of the world's leading corporate sporting events (3,500 participants each year with 2.5 million fans worldwide).
- In 2011, BNP Paribas created wearetennis.com - a platform dedicated entirely to tennis news, providing a constant flow of information covering players and tournaments around the world;
- The website and its associated social networks (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok & YouTube) underscore BNP Paribas' commitment to the world of professional tennis.
- Also in the US, the Bank provides ongoing support toward the heritage and history of tennis through its sponsorship of the International Tennis Hall of Fame located in Newport, Rhode Island.
These various communications initiatives ensure that tennis is a fantastic vehicle for the brand image of BNP Paribas:
- In 2023, BNP Paribas was considered the leading sponsor of tennis in the minds of the French (31% spontaneous recognition, rising to 48% among tennis fans). Source: CSA/2023
- 58% of tennis fans believe that BNP Paribas' partnership with tennis gives a better image of the brand. Source: CSA/2023
- 7/10 is the score given to BNP Paribas by those familiar with We Are Tennis (i.e. 73% of tennis fans). This is 1.2 points more than for all French people. Source: CSA/2023
About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is the European Union's leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 63 countries and has nearly 183,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group's commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability.
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